Cephalopods Pass Cognitive Test Designed For Human Children

10 January 2025
By MICHELLE STARR



Sepia officinalis. (Schafer & Hill/The Image Bank/Getty Images)

Back in 2021, a test of cephalopod smarts reinforced how important it is for us humans to not underestimate animal intelligence.

Cuttlefish were given a new version of the marshmallow test, and the results may demonstrate that there's more going on in their strange little brains than we knew.

Their ability to learn and adapt, the researchers said, could have evolved to give cuttlefish an edge in the cutthroat eat-or-be-eaten marine world they live in.



Cuttlefish can also change their body's color patterns to camouflage or signal. (Wirestock/Getty Images Plus)

The marshmallow test, or Stanford marshmallow experiment, is pretty straightforward.

A child is placed in a room with a marshmallow. They are told if they can manage not to eat the marshmallow for 15 minutes, they'll get a second marshmallow, and be allowed to eat both.

More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/cephalopods-pass-cognitive-test-designed-for-human-children